Applications are assessed by staff who authorize the issuance of a certificate of registration to eligible candidates provided that all credentialing and fee requirements are met.

Credentialing of Applications

All applications for registration must undergo a credentials check by the College. Credentialing provides verification of applicants' identity, qualifications and standing. It confirms that registration requirements have been fully met and assures trust in the reliability and integrity of the College's registration process.

Primary-source verification of qualifications and documents is a fundamental part of credentialing. All qualifications and documents submitted by applicants must be verified by the source organization. To carry out primary-source verification, the College relies on the completion of official forms and certificates issued by the source organization and sent directly to the College. The College also relies on the services of physiciansapply.ca at the Medical Council of Canada for verification of applicants' medical degree and other basic credentials.

In exceptional cases where war, civil disruption or natural disaster in an applicant's home country renders primary- source verification impracticable, the College may, on an individual basis, defer the primary-source verification or substitute other steps in place of primary-source verification of the qualification or document in question.

In order to be registered by the College, all applicants must demonstrate that their past and present conduct indicates that they will practise medicine with mental, moral and medical competence; and that they have effective communication skills and an appropriate professional attitude. (Section 2(1) of the Registration regulation.)

This clause is non-exemptible and if evidence suggests that the applicant cannot comply with this section, the Registration Committee must refuse an application.

Questions of "good conduct" raised during the application process are referred by the Registration Department to the Registration Committee for consideration. Examples of such referrals include cases of substance abuse, mental illness and personal misconduct.

False or Misleading Representations

Section 2(4) of the regulation stipulates that an applicant who makes any false or misleading representation or declaration on or in connection with an application, by commission or omission, shall be deemed thereafter not to have, and not to have had, the standards and qualifications for a certificate of any class. Accordingly, if an applicant knowingly lies, then he/she may lose his/her certificate of registration. In addition, a fine of $10,000 is provided for under the Health Professions Procedural Code (subsection 92(1) and (2)) for knowingly making false representation or knowingly assisting a person to do so.

Practice Limitation

Ontario does not have a "defined" certificate of registration, which would circumscribe a person's right to practise into areas similar to a hospital's procedures list. However, physicians are required to limit their practices to those areas where they are suitably "educated or experienced" (Section 2(5) of the Registration regulation).

Applicants' Access to Registration Application Documents

Applicants for registration with the College may access documents relevant to their application for registration, in accordance with the procedures and restrictions set out in this policy.

How to Access Copies of your Application Documents

Send written request to Inquiries, Applications and Credentials Department, with payment of applicable fee.

Specify the particular documents you wish to be copied from your application file.

Copies will be stamped "copy" and sent to you by regular mail. For faster delivery by "Xpress Canada Post" include additional payment of $10.00 with your request.

Restrictions

The provision of documents is subject to the following conditions and qualifications:

Requests for documents must be made by the applicant directly, and access will be provided only to the applicant (or legally authorized representative). The College will not fulfill requests made by third parties.

The Registrar retains the discretion to refuse to give an applicant anything that may, in the Registrar's opinion, jeopardize the safety of any person.

The College will not grant the request if, at the time of request, the application has terminated, whether by withdrawal or refusal of application, or by granting of registration.

Members' Access: Members of the College seeking access to their registration application documents please refer to the access policy for members: available here

Documents or information destroyed or deleted in accordance with the College's record retention policies cannot be provided. The College has long-term retention only of the primary documents from registration applications, such retention being 50 years following expiry of the member's registration.

Note

The College does not waive privilege over documents contained in an applicant's file. The College will not disclose documents which are subject to any privilege recognized in law.

The College will not provide access to documents if prohibited by law or by order of a court or tribunal.

Where originals of documents are specifically required, the College will retain the originals but will provide copies on applicant's request.

Where originals of documents are submitted for requirements where only copies are required, the College will return the originals to the applicant.

The College reserves the right to limit the quantity of copies provided.

This policy clarifies the College's responsibility, as part of its fiduciary duties to the public, to conduct criminal record screening of Ontario physicians and applicants for certificates of registration to practice medicine in Ontario in order to enhance the safety of the health care environment.